RADAMES
We have swept to glory,
Egypt's mastery expands
From the Nile's northern most delta
To the dry, dry southern sands

The more we find, the more we see,
The more we come to learn
The more that we explore,
The more we shall return

SOLDIERS
Oh, oh
Fortune favors the brave

RADAMES
It's all worked out, my road is clear
The lines of latitude extend
Way beyond my wildest dreams
Toward some great triumphant end

We seize the day
We turned the tide
We touched the stars
We mocked the grave
We moved into uncharted lands

RADAMES & SOLDIERS
Fortune favors the brave

RADAMES
The more we find, the more we see
The more we come to learn
The more that we explore
The more we shall return

Nothing is an accident
We are free to have it all
We are what we want to be
It's in ourselves to rise or fall

This is easy to believe
When distant places call to me
It's harder from the palace yard
Fortune favors the free

SOLDIERS
Oh, oh

RADAMES
Fortune favors the young!

SOLDIERS
Oh, oh

RADAMES
Fortune favors the brave!

(Suddenly, AIDA and NUBIAN WOMEN are pushed onstage. She stumbles. RADAMES
goes over to inspect the Nubians.)

RADAMES
What have we here?

SOLDIER #1
We found them along the riverbank, Captain.

(SOLDIER pushes AIDA forward, into RADAMES' path.)

RADAMES
(to AIDA)
Your country is at war and you go wandering along the Nile's edge. Your must
have a burning desire to see Egypt.
(to SOLDIER)
Put her in Chains
(SOLDIER begins putting AIDA in chains. RADAMES turns to another SOLDIER.)
Have you finished the map?

SOLDIER #2
Yes, Captain.

RADAMES
Good work. But this is wrong.
(He traces his finger over the map)
But this is wrong, from the mast it looked like it curved to the North...like
this. Here, let me show you.

(AIDA has taken a sword from a drunken soldier and is pointing it at the
man who shackled her.)

SOLDIER #1
My sword! My sword!

(AIDA sword fights with the soldiers, taking one captive.)

AIDA
Release them.

RADAMES
(Crossing to AIDA)
Hand it over. Now!

AIDA
(She holds the sword close to the soldier's neck.)
You took us from Nubia...and now you say we belong to you, yes?

RADAMES
Yes.

AIDA
Well, I took this soldier from your ranks. So, by your own logic he belongs
to me. Now let them go.

(RADAMES smiles in acknowledgement, then points to THE WOMEN. SOLDIERS
instantly grab them. AIDA lays down the sword. A SOLDIER snatches it up.)